New Bears Safety Excited to Work with Renowned DB Coach

Coby Bryant, fresh off a Super Bowl win with the Seahawks, sees big opportunities in Chicago.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 4:22pm

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The Chicago Bears made a splash in free agency by signing former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant to a 3-year, $40 million deal. Bears GM Ryan Poles praised Bryant's physical, fast play style that fits the team's defensive identity. Bryant, 26, is eager to work with renowned defensive backs coach Al Harris, who has a track record of developing elite secondaries.

Why it matters

The Bears parted ways with All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III and 2nd-round pick Jaquan Brisker this offseason, signaling a major overhaul of the safety room. Bryant's signing shows the team's commitment to rebuilding the position with a talented, ascending player who can thrive under Harris' coaching.

The details

Bryant is coming off a Super Bowl win with the Seahawks and is excited about the opportunity in Chicago, citing the "right guys" and "right coaching staff" as major draws. He's particularly eager to work with DB coach Al Harris, who has helped develop stars like Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland in recent years. Bryant has just 7 career interceptions but believes Harris can help him take his game to new heights.

  • Bryant signed a 3-year, $40 million deal with the Bears in March 2026.
  • He is set to begin OTAs (Organized Team Activities) with the team.

The players

Coby Bryant

A 26-year-old safety who is joining the Bears after winning the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.

Ryan Poles

The general manager of the Chicago Bears who praised Bryant's physical, fast play style that fits the team's defensive identity.

Al Harris

The Bears' defensive backs coach who has a strong reputation for developing elite secondary players, including Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“When we watched Coby's tape, he was a guy who got us excited because we felt like he played our style of ball. He played fast; he played physical. Those are the things that (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen) is looking for, that we're looking for. We thought there was leadership there. He's young. We had the opportunity to bring a unique player in, and that's the decision we made.”

— Ryan Poles, General Manager, Chicago Bears (yardbarker.com)

“Honestly, just feeling wanted. That's the feeling that I had. God told me, just choose this place, and that's what happened.”

— Coby Bryant (yardbarker.com)

“Big reason why I chose to be here. Got the right guys, the right coaching staff. Just taking it one day at a time and starting in OTAs (Organized Team Activities).”

— Coby Bryant (yardbarker.com)

“I couldn't stop smiling, honestly. Just the guys that he's previously worked with had seven plus interceptions. So, I look forward to that for sure.”

— Coby Bryant (yardbarker.com)

What’s next

Bryant is set to begin OTAs (Organized Team Activities) with the Bears as he looks to take his game to new heights under the tutelage of defensive backs coach Al Harris.

The takeaway

The Bears' signing of Coby Bryant signals a major overhaul of their safety room, as they look to rebuild the position with a talented, ascending player who can thrive under the coaching of renowned DB guru Al Harris. Bryant's excitement to join the Bears and work with Harris suggests the team has found a key piece to shore up their secondary.